The Best Gift of All

Have you ever been excited to give someone a present? Ever anticipated seeing their face when they open it? There have been several presents over the years I've been excited to give (maybe even more excited than the person I've given them to!). I remember when we were first married, money was tight. I had left Channel 16 and they were suing me. I was using every bit of money I had to pay the attorney. During that year, I was working 4 part-time jobs but I was able to tuck away $20 here and there to prepare for Christmas. Someone had given me a tip that my husband wanted a new set of golf clubs but would never ask for them. After doing some shopping and sneaking around, I bought a set of new Callaway Golf Clubs for $700 and hid them. I couldn't wait until Christmas because I wanted to see his face when he opened the box. I was more excited about seeing his reaction and the smile on his face. Sure enough, his reaction didn't disappoint me. In my opinion, that was a great gift!

Over the last few weeks, I've been reminded about how God must've felt in sending Jesus to earth as a baby. I wondered, "Was God excited? Was He peeking around the corner waiting and watching for our reaction? Did God wonder if we would like His gift?"

What makes giving a gift special? When I gave the golf clubs to my husband, my gift was special because times were tough financially and it was a sacrifice on my part. Did God the Father feel that way? Think about it...He had one Son to give...that's it. God knew His Son would bring you much joy and comfort. God knew His Son would save you from your sins so you could have eternal life. John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him would not perish, but have everlasting life." You don't give special, sacrificial gifts to someone you don't love. What a waste of your time and effort! But you'll give whatever you can afford to someone you love dearly.

See God's gift for what is it--sacrificial, one-of-a-kind, full of love and adoration. And just imagine God peeking around the corner of your life to see how you react to His gift!

Merry Christmas!

(I'll return on January 2, 2008.)